In both the Iroquois and Cherokee cultures, animals are seen as key figures in the creation of the Earth, and are important to the survival of the humans. In the Iroquois creation myth, "The World on the Turtle's Back," the animals are portrayed as helpful and selfless, while in the Cherokee creation myth "The Creation of Corn and Medicine," the Cherokees view the animals as vengeful beasts. The difference in views shows that the Iroquois people appreciate the animals' sacrifices more than the Cherokee, even though in both stories animals are equally necessary for the creation of Earth.
The myths represented contrasting ideas on the balance between man and animal. The Iroquois myth creates a relationship between them where the Iroquois respect the animals for their sacrifices, and the animals willingly help the humans even at a great personal cost to themselves. When the woman fell from the Sky World, the birds did not even consider letting her die. They help her, instinctively falling into their role as selfless assistants. All of the animals are eager to help the woman however they could, and during their endeavors to get her the dirt for the Earth it is stated that "They went to the limits of their endurance" (Iroquois) in their attempts to ensure the woman's survival. The animals themselves think their lives to be of lesser importance than the woman's and the the meerkat even came close to death in his devotion to getting the dirt. However, the Cherokee take an alternate view on animals, seeing them as malevolent beasts plotting revenge on the humans. Though the animals and the humans got along well in the beginning, the humans started mistreating the animals and they were "Slaughtered for food or trampled under the humans' feet" (Cherokee). Because of the humans' brutality towards them, the animals started seeking revenge. The insects and small animals "created all sorts of new diseases to afflict humans" (Cherokee). They found new ways to fight back so the humans did not have all of the advantages.
In both stories the creation of Earth depended on animals; however the Cherokee and Iroquois differ in their interpretations of why the Earth was created. In the Iroquois myth, the animals create the Earth to ensure the woman's life continued after she fell from the Sky World. They did not create for themselves, their goal was to "help her" (Iroquois) as much as possible. The meerkat, a normally very ordinary animal, was the one that reached the bottom of the ocean and came up with a "Tiny crumb of earth" (Iroquois). That "crumb" was what made it possible for the woman to grow food and create a suitable environment for life. Without the meerkat, the creation would not have been possible as none of the other animals could make it to the bottom of the ocean, though not for lack of trying. The Cherokee also believed that the animals created the Earth as humans were not alive and no gods were mentioned. However, in their stories the animals created the world for their own benefit as they "Needed more room" (Cherokee). Unlike the Iroquois myth, the animals did not selflessly make the world; it was for their own gain, The water-beetle was the animal that went down and retrieved the mud to create Earth, revealing a common idea between both cultures, They both chose an otherwise unremarkable animal as one of the most instrumental forces in the making of the world, stressing the importance of even the smallest life form.
The Iroquois showed an inherent appreciation and respect for the animals, leading to a positive relationship between them, while the Cherokee's lack of consideration for the animals' lives created only conflict, teaching those that followed that it is important to be considerate.
In both the Iroquois and Cherokee cultures, animals are seen as key figures in the creation of the Earth, and are important to the survival of the humans. In the Iroquois creation myth, "The World on the Turtle's Back," the animals are portrayed as helpful and selfless, while in the Cherokee creation myth "The Creation of Corn and Medicine," the Cherokees view the animals as vengeful beasts. The difference in views shows that the Iroquois people appreciate the animals' sacrifices more than the Cherokee, even though in both stories animals are equally necessary for the creation of Earth.
The myths represented contrasting ideas on the balance between man and animal. The Iroquois myth creates a relationship between them where the Iroquois respect the animals for their sacrifices, and the animals willingly help the humans even at a great personal cost to themselves. When the woman fell from the Sky World, the birds did not even consider letting her die. They help her, instinctively falling into their role as selfless assistants. All of the animals are eager to help the woman however they could, and during their endeavors to get her the dirt for the Earth it is stated that "They went to the limits of their endurance" (Iroquois) in their attempts to ensure the woman's survival. The animals themselves think their lives to be of lesser importance than the woman's and the the meerkat even came close to death in his devotion to getting the dirt. However, the Cherokee take an alternate view on animals, seeing them as malevolent beasts plotting revenge on the humans. Though the animals and the humans got along well in the beginning, the humans started mistreating the animals and they were "Slaughtered for food or trampled under the humans' feet" (Cherokee). Because of the humans' brutality towards them, the animals started seeking revenge. The insects and small animals "created all sorts of new diseases to afflict humans" (Cherokee). They found new ways to fight back so the humans did not have all of the advantages.
In both stories the creation of Earth depended on animals; however the Cherokee and Iroquois differ in their interpretations of why the Earth was created. In the Iroquois myth, the animals create the Earth to ensure the woman's life continued after she fell from the Sky World. They did not create for themselves, their goal was to "help her" (Iroquois) as much as possible. The meerkat, a normally very ordinary animal, was the one that reached the bottom of the ocean and came up with a "Tiny crumb of earth" (Iroquois). That "crumb" was what made it possible for the woman to grow food and create a suitable environment for life. Without the meerkat, the creation would not have been possible as none of the other animals could make it to the bottom of the ocean, though not for lack of trying. The Cherokee also believed that the animals created the Earth as humans were not alive and no gods were mentioned. However, in their stories the animals created the world for their own benefit as they "Needed more room" (Cherokee). Unlike the Iroquois myth, the animals did not selflessly make the world; it was for their own gain, The water-beetle was the animal that went down and retrieved the mud to create Earth, revealing a common idea between both cultures, They both chose an otherwise unremarkable animal as one of the most instrumental forces in the making of the world, stressing the importance of even the smallest life form.
The Iroquois showed an inherent appreciation and respect for the animals, leading to a positive relationship between them, while the Cherokee's lack of consideration for the animals' lives created only conflict, teaching those that followed that it is important to be considerate.